•
• Save solid waste disposal, collection, and transportation costs •
• Generate revenues fro the sale of recyclables •
• Create jobs •
• Provide eligibility for NC Solid Waste Management Trust Fund grants

•
• Newsprint •
• Corrugated cardboar •
• Office/computer paper •
• Mixed paper •
• Magazines •
• Telephone directories •
• Glass containers •
• Aluminum cans and scrap •
• Steel cans and ferrous
• scrap •
• Plastics •
• Yard waste •
• Used motor oil •
• Food waste •
• Wood waste •
• Asphalt •
• Concrete •
• Boiler ash •
• Construction/demolition
• debris •
• Textiles •
• Appliances •
• Tires •
• Lead-acid batteries
• Toner cartridge

• Appoint a recycling coordinator to orchestrate the various program components. A • full-time coordinator will be the most effective. If you can't afford to hire someone • full-time, consider either hiring part-time staff appointing a program administrator or public works employee, or recruiting a dedicated volunteer.

Survey Present Solid Waste Operations

Is solid waste collected by the public works department, a solid waste hauler contracted by the local government, or by haulers who contract with individual households? Determine how • much solid waste is collecte • by checking local landfil • records. Then figure out how • much solid waste can be • recycled by conducting a waste • characterization study. Be • sure to factor in the typ • and amounts of recyclable • already collected by scout troops, commercial buy-back • operations, and fundraisin • drives

• • Locate Materials Market

• To determine the • availability of markets, check • the Office of Waste • Reduction's (OWR) maketdirectory, contact local • recycling coordinators (OWR • also has a directory of • recycling contacts), look inn • the Yellow Pages under "recycling," "waste paper," "plastic scrap," and "scrap metal," and consult local waste haulers.

Evaluate Collection Methods

Are drop-off centers or a curbside program (or a combination of both systems) better for your community? Drop-off recycling centers are usually utilized in areas where individual household collection is impractical and cost savings are important. Some advantages of drop-off centers are low capital costs, ease in collecting more categories of materials than with curbside collection, no staffing is required, and • they can be open 24 hours a day. However, drop- offs are less convenient than curbside (resulting• in a lower volume recovered), recyclables can be contaminated with unacceptable items, they are• vulnerable to theft, vandalism and litter, and can become unsightly if not staffed.

• Curbside Collection

convenience to residents results in a higher recovery rate than drop-offs, and it can be consolidated with solid waste collection. But, it requires higher equipment and operating costs, it's labor intensive, and it's more complex to manage.

Select Collection Method

Choose a method ofand processed. collection based upon monetary, equipment, staff resources, and housing density. Examine similar local governments' recycling programs to determine if their methods would suit your situation.

Define Equipment Requirements

Is your current materials prepared, such as: equipment inventory adequate or is additional machinery is needed? Consider retrofitting• existing vehicles, trailers, and dumpsters. Find• out what similar local governments are using.

• Conduct An Economic Analysis

Determine the costs of each collection method/program and assess. current funding availability. Consider alternative funding mechanisms. Consult the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources' (DEHNR) guidance document for full-cost determination, and remember to factor in solid waste cost savings and anticipated revenues from the sale of recyclables.

Consider Regional Recycling

Contact local government recycling coordinators and talk to your neighboring communities about establishing a regional recycling program. Benifits include:

• Market leverage due to larger volumes
• Lower equipement and labor costs
• Decreased transportation costs
• Reduced administrative costs
• Higher market prices for greater volumes of recyclables

Your markets determine how materials are collected For example,andglass, plastic, and steel markets may or may not accept labels on containers they receive; some paper stock dealers accept colored/shiny advertising inserts with newspapers, and some don't. Find out how the markets want materials prepared, such as:

• baled or loose
• crushed, densified,
• granulated, or whole
• mixed or separated.

Drop-off Center Design Factors

Drop-off centers should be located in areas convenient to program participants. Design factors should include:

•
• accessible, secure and visible locations •
• weather protection •
• adequate storage space •
• collection vehicle access •
• organized traffic flow •
• an attractive, clean site.

Decide how residents should prepare the materials. Select the collection method and determine the equipment to be used. Decide how to address the needs of elderly or disabled individuals. Determine the collection schedule and routes:

•
• Recyclables collection on the same day as solid waste makes it easier for participants to remember the schedule, however more equipment and personnel may be needed •
• If collection is on a different day than solid waste collection, the same crew may be used on off days, but it's harder for residents to remember the schedule (and lower recycling rates may result)

Private vs. Public Collection

Many local governments are choosing to contract solid waste management services. To help you decide whether to exercise this option, discuss the advantages and Drop-off centers disadvantages of public versus private collection with local governments experienced with this issue. You can also obtain a free publication from the EPA called Public-Private Partnerships for Environmental Facilities: A Self-Help Guide For Local Government. It describes the benefits of working with the private sector and how to develop innovative financing approaches through public-private relationships.

Public Education and Publicity

Begin communicating with and involving the public early in the planning process. Plan and implement a program kick- off to generate interest and enthusiasm for the program. Inform the public of program requirements and elicit their support. Address the following program elements: why, what, how, where, and when. Provide easy-to-understand instructions on how to participate and keep your communication positive. Tailor your program to address specific populations, such as those who don't speak English, and address citizens' concerns. Borrow ideas for • successful public education activities that other communities have used. Provide feedback on program accomplishments and make publicity an on-going effort. In addition, develop a program to educate recycling program personnel, including collection crews.

Publicity Methods

Several publicity tools may be employed such as:

•
• a letter from the mayor or county commissioner to residents and businesses •
• special events such as games and contests •
• printed materials •
• mass media •
• personal outreach at public events •
• block leaders •
• direct communication with individual residents • presentations/booths at schools, fairs, community events •
• messages in utility bills

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

Keep accurate and complete records of all activities, including amounts of materials recovered, revenues and costs, problems with collection, processing, or markets, and complaints by the public and staff members. Analyze program records to ascertain if:

•
• the collection method is reliable •
• more education/publicity is needed •
• recovery rates are consistent
• the quality of recyclables is consistently high

In addition, set up a system for receiving and responding to suggestions and complaints, and if you have a private contractor, make sure the contractor complies with work specifications.

                                   

North Carolina Recycling           A Solid Waste Management Full
Association                        Cost Determination Guidance
7330 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite        Document for North Carolina
207                                Local Governments.  NC-DEHNR
Raleigh, NC  27607                 Division of Solid Waste
(919) 851-8444                     Management and Office of Waste
                                   Reduction.
U.S. Environmental Protection      
Agency                             A Source Reduction and
Region IV                          Recycling Guidance Document
345 Courtland Street, N.E.         for North Carolina
Atlanta, GA  30365                 Communities.  NC-DEHNR
Robin Mitchell (404) 347-2091      Division of Solid Waste
                                   Management and Office of Waste
       OTHER RESOURCES             Reduction.
                                   
Decision-Makers Guide to Solid     A Waste Stream
Waste Management. (1989) U.S.      Characterization Guidance
Environmental Protection           Document for North Carolina
Agency, Region IV, Atlanta,        Communities.  NC-DEHNR
GA. (404) 347-2091.                Division of Solid Waste
                                   Management and Office of Waste
Public-Private Partnerships        Reduction.
For Environmental Facilities:      
A Self-Help Guide For Local        
Government. U.S. Environmental     
Protection Agency, Washington,     
DC 20460.

Directory of Industrial and        
Commercial Recyclers Serving
North Carolina Businesses and
Communities.  Office of Waste
Reduction, NC-DEHNR, P.O. Box
27687, Raleigh, NC 27611.

Directory of North Carolina
State and Local Contacts For
Recycling Information and
Assistance.  Office of Waste
Reduction, NC-DEHNR, P.O. Box
27687, Raleigh, NC  27611.

Official Recycled Products
Guide. Recoup Publishing Ltd.,
P.O. Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY
13669 (800) 267-0707

North Carolina Recycling and
Solid Waste Management Plan.
NC-DEHNR, Division of Solid
Waste Management and Office of
Waste Reduction.

The material in this publication was adapted from Steps in
Organizing a Municipal Recycling Program, State of New Jersey,
Office of Recycling.

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